Experience the magical music of Scotland and Ireland with the Seán Heely Celtic Band. Featuring U.S National Scottish Fiddle champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, bouzouki and bass player Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. The Seán Heely Celtic Band brings together many different instruments to perform fiery dance tunes and ancient, soaring melodies from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond. Original compositions abound and they have rich vocal harmonies in their solid song repertoire that features ballads, sea shanties, and songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition.
"One powerhouse of a fiddler!” ~ Liz Carroll, Irish fiddle legend and National Heritage Fellow
“Sean has steeped himself in the Gaelic language and music tradition. He has traveled extensively and studied with the best on both sides of the Atlantic. His performances are equally as enlightening as they are entertaining.” ~ Bonnie Rideout, 3x Grammy-nominated Scottish fiddler
The High Drive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3TfcC92z_A&list=PLXUW1QkzSs3gyqgJWy_a20HXVMe72v3kv&index=20
Si Mórag Set
The Kilmaine Saints is a band formed on good whiskey and bad intentions. The brainchild of two members of a Harrisburg Pipe & Drum band, this project was originally created with the sole intent of getting them free beer at St. Patrick’s Day shows in the central PA area (and might I add- mission accomplished). After incorporating the help of fellow members from the pipe band and other notable musicians from the area, they soon realized they were in for one hell of a ride. Since 2009 they have continued to pound through blistering, high-energy live sets that keep people singing along, stomping their feet, lifting their pints and shouting for more. With several hundred shows at pubs and festivals from New Jersey to California, critically acclaimed releases under their belts, national and international airplay, and an ever-expanding and extremely loyal fanbase, it’s no wonder the world is starting to stand up and take notice. In short, The Kilmaine Saints are equal parts Irish swagger, Scottish pride, and whiskey. This explosive Celtic rock band from central PA will steal your heart, your spirit, and your pint when you’re not looking.
"One of my favourite bands and one that all the writers here would agree is and has been one of the best and not only that but it is widely agreed that when the definitive history of Celtic-Punk is put to paper then the Kilmaine Saints will have one or maybe two of the best Celtic-Punk albums and maybe even a third as well!"- London Celtic Punk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZKsnt2YMWo&t=84s
House of the Rising Sun
With over 700 performances in the US and Canada Across the Pond has entertained audiences of all ages at concert halls, festival stages, weddings, municipal summer concerts, parties and pubs from North Carolina to Montreal, QC.
They play and sing both traditional and contemporary Celtic folk music from Ireland and Scotland, with occasional American Mountain Music. From the Burren, to the Highlands, to Appalachia, they find the best songs and tunes, then have their way with them.
Band members are Mike Morrison on Guitar & mandolin, Dan Diviney on bodhran and whistles; Molly Shortridge on flutes, whistles and piccolo, and Charles Kadyk on fiddle and viola.
Across the Pond was been named in the Top 20 Celtic Folk Bands World-wide by Marc Gunn’s Irish & Celtic Music Podcast; was named Co-winners of the Texas Scots Talent Competition 2015; 'I Know My Love' from “Kid on the Mountain” CD was voted 'Best of Contemporary' for 2015 and inducted into the Celtic Radio Hall of Fame, their Arran Boat set nominated was that same year as Best Traditional; and, “Kid on the Mountain” CD was entered into the Irish Traditional Music Archives in Dublin, Ireland. Their second CD, Little Beggarman, was released just prior to the pandemic and has been very well received.
They’ve performed in Manhattan for English Playwright Jez Butterworth and the cast of the Broadway show ‘The Ferryman’; for NY Times Best Selling Author Nora Roberts for the re-release of her Irish Trilogy; and were recently hired by the Canadian Government to produce a video for the Canadian Forces stationed around the world and aired on St. Patrick’s Day, 2021.
Across the Pond - Where tradition meets innovation!
Medley Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-JyNXbaKEQ
Featuring award winning instrumentalists and dancers, the Celtic Martins from south-eastern Pennsylvania have been entertaining audiences for over a decade and a half with their high- energy, fiddle driven Celtic music and Irish dance. Their creative upbeat arrangements based on original and centuries-old traditional Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, French Canadian, and Americana tunes, are joyful and infectious, leaving listeners with both a sense of satisfaction and a desire for more. Their shows also feature Irish step dancing by the Martin sisters, always a crowd favorite.
The Celtic Martins is truly a family band. The six Martin siblings each began their musical career with the fiddle around the tender age of 5, branching out over time to other instruments, including Irish whistles, bagpipes, guitar, accordion, cello, drums, percussion, and vocals. They are joined by their parents on guitar and bass. The Celtic Martins have been performing since 2004 and have quickly become a musical sensation, appearing nationwide at various festivals, theaters and other venues such as the Bethlehem Music Fest, Smoky Mountain Highland Games, the Kutztown Folk Festival, Bitterroot Valley Highland Games, and more.
The Celtic Martins are;
Nelson Martin-guitar
Elaine Martin-bass
Emily Roeder-fiddle, bagpipes, Irish dance
Melissa Martin-fiddle, Irish whistles, accordion, Irish dance
Brian Martin-drums, guitar, percussion
Christy Martin-fiddle, cello, bagpipes, Irish dance
Zach Martin-fiddle
Alex Martin-drums, fiddle
Based out of the Lehigh Valley, Fig for a Kiss is an acoustic, Irish folk band with a unique blend of Celtic and contemporary influences.
Video – Fig for a Kiss playing the tune Fig for a Kiss (would you believe it was named after the band?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDmupkbaGiM&t=27s
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUfE-A_Fkf1/embed/?autoplay=1
Declan Houton was born the youngest of 11 Children in Irelands most Northerly Parish of Malin, County Donegal. At home in Ireland, he grew up playing music in Pubs throughout the North West, as well as gigs in Sweden, Finland and Estonia…and onboard The Viking Line Cruise Ship M/S Mariella, sailing The Baltic Sea.
In April of 2000, he moved yo Boston, and since then has performed at numerous festivals throughout the East Coast…Miami, Mississippi, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, New York etc. He has played music as part of Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones Band, and has shared the stage with the likes of Finbar Furey, Paddy Reilly and The Dublin City Ramblers. His Band Devri have performed in Times Square for the 5th, 10th & 15th Anniversary 9-11 Concerts as guests of The NYPD, and have performed on numerous Carribean Cruises. In the Summer of 2022, The Band brought 3 Busloads ( 120 people ) home to Ireland on an 8 day Music Tour, and they will travel back to Ireland in July on another Tour.
During the Lockdown, Declan performed on Facebook Live for 16 Sunday nights in a row, raising over $65,000 for a favorite Kids Cancer Charity called Lucyslovebus. For these efforts he was named a Boston Magazine ‘Best of Boston Covid Hero’ He Has also been awarded the Golden Bridges Irish Person of the year award, and also the Tip O’Neill Donegal Diaspora award for his charity efforts in Boston, and at home in Donegal. To Date, his Band Devri has raised well in excess of $300,000 for various kids cancer charities in the New England area….mainly by their very popular ‘Hawaiian themed Irish Music Booze Cruise of Boston Harbor’ which takes place each August.
He has had the distinct honor of performing Americas National Anthem on two occasions for The Boston Bruins at The TD Garden, and has also performed The National Anthem at Gillette Stadium for The New England Revolution Soccer Team.
For more info….Check out DevriBoston on Facebook & Instagram
Beth Patterson was raised by feral dachshunds in a Louisiana swamp. From a very tender age, she had some sort of musical endeavor or another in her life, but as a teenager discovered her love of performing as a bassist in assorted Cajun and heavy metal bands. Shortly thereafter she took to the Irish bouzouki, largely because someone told her not to. She studied ethnomusicology at University College, Cork in Ireland and holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Loyola University New Orleans. Beth has performed in over twenty countries across five continents, appeared on over two hundred recordings, and once goaded a very drunk Ronnie Wood to sing “I’m a Lumberjack” with her.
Beth met Seán Heely during one of her rare 2020 gigs in Norfolk, Virginia and invited him to sit in. Since then they’ve played numerous gigs together, co-written music, and amassed a collection of jokes and anecdotes—some of which they might be able to share with the audience. .
Champion fiddler and singer Seán Heely is one of the most creatively versatile and captivating young artists of his generation. He is a U.S National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award-winning Irish Fiddler, singer, and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Seán holds a degree from University of South Carolina in Classical Violin Performance and was a 2019 Artist in Residence at Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. An educator in demand, Seán is an Adjunct Instructor at American University, he has also been on the faculty at several summer camps such as Acadia Traditional School of Music and Arts, Boxwood Music Festival, Upper Potomac Fiddle Retreat, and Fiddle Hell Festival. He has performed in Scotland, Ireland, South America, Germany and at prestigious venues in the U.S such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C and Strathmore Music Center.
Don’t miss them performing in the Seán Heely Band performing as the headliner in the last slot of the day Saturday.
Kaitlyn Likas is an award-winning fiddler and Irish/Scottish Highland dancer based in the Washington, DC area.
Kaitlyn is a self-taught fiddler and has performed in the Baltimore-based Irish punk band, The Charm City Saints, Black 47, O'Malley's March, Celtica, The Fighting Jameson's, Capital Celtic, The Devil’s Tailors, The Thistle & The Rose, Baltic Celtic, and The Gobshites. Ms. Likas was a featured fiddler in Celtic Life International Magazine in 2018. She was also featured in Fair Lady Fiddlers “Female Fiddler of the Day.”
Kaitlyn has performed at several Irish/Celtic festivals on the east coast, including ShamrockFest. She has graced the stages of The Kennedy Center, various festivals and highland games, restaurants, and pubs. One of the highlights of Kaitlyn's career was performing before Her Excellency, Former Ambassador to Ireland, Anne Anderson in Kingstowne, VA.
John Bimbiras is a guitarist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD. He has been active as a performer since the age of twelve, playing at prestigious venues throughout the DMV, NYC, and Austin, TX. His influences draw from a vast array of genres and styles including rock, jazz, blues, folk, Celtic, and Latin music. Currently, Bimbiras is also a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin. He has produced two albums of historically informed Dominican music: Rafael Petitón Guzmán: a Dominican Musical Treasure on the World Stage by the Dominican Studies Institute Orchestra and Del Burro al Subway by Sofrito y Su Melao. In Baltic Celtic, a new project put together with violinist Kaitlyn Likas, they explore their shared Irish and Lithuanian heritage through this musical collaboration.
Green Hills, featuring Charles Kadyk on violin and viola and Diane Kadyk on harp and concertina, plays a variety of musical styles including traditional Celtic, classical, jazz, and pop. The duo got their start on their musical wedding day and take their name from their home in the Green Hills area of Berks County, PA. Other outstanding musicians such as Justin Cook on vocals, whistles and bodhran and Joe Hughes on vocals, mandolin, banjo, and guitar, frequently join them.
Bern n’ Bridge is an acoustic duo featuring guitarist Bridget Gindhart from State College, PA, and vocalist Bernadette Bratina from Harrisburg, PA. They began performing Celtic and pop songs for pubs and wineries this past year, and enjoy mixing modern influences of pop and folk artists with traditional Irish and Celtic songs. Bern n’ Bridge incorporates both elements of classical vocal technique and modern influences like the use of a loop pedal in their set, and they hope to bring a fresh take on some old and new music!
Craggy Island plays Traditional Irish music, with a few surprises. Patrick Fenning, from Dublin, Ireland, on guitar, and Susan Withers on fiddle and whistle are well known for their rich vocals, lively instrumentals and original arrangements.
Susan and Patrick often perform as a duo but can expand the band up to five pieces when requested.
Craggy Island hosts an Irish traditional session at Magoo’s Pub in Frederick on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursdays of each month. They play regularly at The Beans in the Belfry, Magoo’s Pub, Milkhouse Brewery and New Market Plains Winery. Craggy Island has played the following festivals: The Frederick Celtic Festival, The Mid Maryland Irish Festival, CCE Fairfax Irish Festival, South Mountain Heritage Society Concert Series, Brunswick Railroad Days, Brunswick Community Picnic, St. Andrews Society, and last year’s Dill’s Celtic Festival.
Grace has been playing Hammered Dulcimer professionally for over ten years, both as a soloist and with her acclaimed band, Seasons.
Grace takes on a unique approach to the Hammered Dulcimer by focusing primarily on playing traditional Irish music. Grace has done extensive research to make these tunes sound traditional on her instrument through instruction, listening to Irish records, and going to as many sessions as she can attend.
AWARDS:
Although Grace does enjoy playing a variety of genres, her favorite is Irish music.
Grace not only performs professionally as a musician but has also competed and placed in music competitions. Grace placed first at the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh in Miscellaneous Instrument in 2022 and 2018. In 2018, she competed at the All Ireland Fleadh in Drogheda, Ireland. Her competition performance also received gold at the 2020 Chicago eComórtas Ceoil (formerly known as the eFleadh) competition and bronze at the 2021 Chicago eComórtas Ceoil.
MUSIC:
In May of 2022, Grace released her first solo record entitled “Eyre.” The album is primarily traditional Irish and Scottish tunes on the hammered dulcimer. Eyre has received rave reviews and has been featured in magazines including Irish Music Magazine, Dulcimer Players News, and The Irish Echo. Eyre has also had a lot of air time and has been featured on music podcasts and radio stations including Thunder on the Plains, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Wide is the Door, Ian Lynch’s Fire Draw Near, and many others.
Along with the Hammered Dulcimer, Grace also plays Piano, Harp, Bodhran, and Tenor Banjo.
Although Grace resides and performs in Central Pennsylvania, she has also performed in multiple countries including Ireland, Austria, Italy, Poland, and Israel.
Hammered Dulcimers Grace plays include:
The Regimental Pipes & Drums was organized in December 2021 as a Living History group to portray the pipe bands of the Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) of the British Army during World War II. We play period music on bagpipes and drums, and wear authentic uniforms that were worn either in North Africa in the early-war era, or during the Great Victory Parades in Northwestern Europe during 1944-45. During those periods, three battalions of the Black Watch served in two brigades of the 51st Highland Division. During both periods, the 51st HD amassed a sterling combat record. Wherever they went, they were leg by pipes and drums who encouraged the troops, raised their morale, and participated in the various ceremonial events.
The Coyle School of Irish Dance strives to instill in each student a respect for Irish culture by teaching various aspects of traditional Irish dancing. The school is committed to promoting teamwork among its students which in turn helps foster a family atmosphere within the school. Above all, it is important that each student enjoys his or her experiences with Irish dancing.
The Coyle School of Irish dance roots can be traced back to 1971 when Mr. Edward Coyle (Co. Donegal) and his wife, Mrs. 'Peg' Coyle (Co. Clare), enrolled their three daughters, Grace Ann, Eileen, and Colleen in Irish Dance classes with Mr. Peter Dougherty (Co. Derry). For several years the three sisters competed across the Eastern U.S. and performed at many public and private events. Upon Mr. Dougherty's resignation, Ms. Bridie Logue Norquist and Mr. Michael Barlow took over teaching his classes. Ultimately, in 1981, Grace Anne Coyle was asked to lead the school and thus the Coyle School of Irish Dance was born.
Today the school is proud to have classes in four locations taught by six certified teachers, three being certified adjudicators.
Betsy Barnicle - the strolling fiddler.
The Fitzgeralds
Poor Man's Gambit
The ShamRogues
Hold Fast
Kilmaine Saints
Jameson Sisters
Darby Beat
Mary-Kate & Mary-Grace (duo)
Seasons
Dave Pedrick
Ceol Anam Cara
Lochiel Emerald Society Pipes & Drums
Brian Colgan
Terry Kane
Harrisburg Scottish Country Dance Society
Coyle School of Irish Dance
Carraig School of Irish Dance
Ted and Susie's Pickin' & Grinnin' Children's Show
Emily Warren (Dance Instruction)
Irish Blessing
Jig Jam
Shane Farrell/Ciarán Quinn duo
Sean Reidy
On the Lash
The Celtic Martins
Across The Pond
RUNA
Charlie Zahm with Tad Marks
Cas Ceol
Fig for a Kiss
Craggy Island with Knocknrea
The Regimental Pipes & Drums
One Street Over